Good Morning!

I have decided to try REALLY hard to update regularly in order to journal our move, and keep DJ updated since he is already living/working at the new location.  I think it will be a bit easier for me to make regular posts now that I am OFFICIALLY finished with my online classes.  Woo Hoo!!!  I just may hold the record for the longest time taken to complete a bachelor's degree.  I started straight out of high school in 1990, and now.............. exactly 17 years later, I am finished!!!

Our first week here without Daddy has been a bit of a blur.  We were all exhausted from spending the week in IL with him when we returned home on Sunday evening.  The kids were great though and we all worked together to unload the Expedition AND get everything put away where it belongs.  We started laundry right away and the house was in "show condition" again within 1 1/2 hours of our arrival.  It was so nice to have everything done and I had a very peaceful night of sleep that night.  I think we all did!

MONDAY was a day of staying home and recovering from the long trip.  I was able to complete one of my finals and the little boys enjoyed playing with their toys.  We went outside to start mowing the lawn, but hit one obstacle after another.  Isn't this just how it goes when the man of the house is away?  The battery was dead in the mower.  Lucky for me, the charger was right beside it and I was able to figure out how to get it going.  We mowed for a while and got the front almost finished, when it ran out of gas.  At that point, I decided to take a break.  Nothing is ever too easy around here. LOL!  When the big kids arrived home from school, I went to get gas for the mower.  Brandon helped me gas it up, re-charge the battery and once again I was off..............until...........it started throwing sparks and smoking.  That was enough for one day.  I parked it in the garage and announced to little Jarrett that we would just HAVE to get a new one!  He made sure to tell daddy that night on the phone that "mommy broke it, get a new one".

TUESDAY was a beautiful day!  The boys and I left the house in the late morning and went to the post office.  They had made a couple of pictures for daddy, I made him snickerdoodles, and we had his mail from the previous week to drop by the post office.  We then stopped by and had a nice visit with DJ's grandmother.  She is such a wonderful woman and I never tired of talking with her.  We share many of the same beliefs and ideas, which reminds me that I was born into the wrong decade!  After we left grandma's we headed for a "healthy" lunch a Burger King , and took it to the park to eat.  The boys then ran around and played on the slides and swings for over an hour.  When they were completely exhausted we headed for my doctor's appt.  Baby is doing very well and growing normally.  My midwife gave me a list of midwives in the area where we will be moving.  Not a large list to choose from, but hopefully we will find someone we really like.

WEDNESDAY  was another day at home.  Our favorite friend and former daycare girl, Molly, spent the day with us.  The kids all love her and they enjoyed the chance to see her again.  We will miss her (and her family) terribly when we move.  That morning we made playdough, read stories, and then spent time out enjoying the windy, but sunny day.  Molly and Jarrett napped, while Hunter and I completed his school work for the day.  We don't do much this year for Kindergarten, but next year his school work will take most of the morning and part of the afternoon.  I can't wait!!! 

Brandon has really been going above and beyond this week.  He his been such a huge help to me by taking over the "man" jobs.  Even though he bought a new PS2 gave on the trip, he has not taken the time to play it for more than 30 minutes the 1st night we arrived back home.  He has been working hard on getting his homework caught back up, and also fixed the mower for me and completed the mowing, helped Hunter, Em, and I move the yard sell items to the front of the house, AND put the table together that I hoped to sell.  Even though bedtime was 9:00 for him, we was up until 10 every night without complaining, getting things done that we had to do.  All of the children have been such a big help and blessing this week!  I am one lucky mama! 

THURSDAY

I was up early today to get the yardsale items layed out and ready to go.  It was a chilly, cloudy day.  Jarrett was up with me at 6:30 and Brandon and Em helped until the bus came at 6:45.  We had a good sale and were able to get rid of most of the clothing, and many smaller items.  What we didn't sell we loaded up and dropped off at the thrift store that evening.  I then treated everyone to burgers and fries at a local restaurant we have never been to.  It was good.......overpriced, but good.  Emily then walked next door to her dance class and the boys and I ran to Advance Auto to get a fuse for the truck. It blew on the trip, so I couldn't charge the cell phone from the truck anymore.  After picking her up we returned home just in time for a very, very, very yucky poopy diaper from Jarrett.  He was a mess from the waist down, so he had his bath and got ready for bed.  It happened again 2 more times before he fell asleep and I thought he felt very warm as well.  During the night he had several yucky diapers, and vomited once.  Poor baby was miserable with tummy cramps and tossed and turned all night.  At 2 a.m. I was thowing in another load of laundry and praying that he would get some relief and allow us both some much needed rest.  The next morning my quick internet research reveled that he had rotovirus.  Two children in our area were recently hospitalized with this virus with concerns of dehydration, so I was very concerned.  Fortunately he continues to drink gatorade, so he is staying hydrated.

FRIDAY was more of the same for Jarrett.  Grandma made a run to walmart for us today for diapers.  I had only 1 left when she arrived!!!  She also brought strawberries for him because it is one of his favorite foods.  During the late afternoon, he did eat 1/2 chicken sandwhich and 5 strawberries.  Yeah, perhaps he is on the mend.  Friday night was a high fever though when he went to bed at 8:30.  Brandon, Em and Hunter enjoyed a late night watching Disney channel and playing computer games.  I was able to finish my LAST final!!  Whew!

SATURDAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY JARRETT!

Our little guy turned 2 today!  We woke up fever free and feeling very well!  We had a late bacon and egg breakfast (his favorite) and then let him open his gifts.  He received a talking Lightening McQueen car and book from his mommy, daddy and siblings, a golf club set, baseball bat and ball, and large bouncy ball from Grandma and Grampa W, and a gift card from Grandma and Grampa J.  Emily had made him a very elaborate Happy Birthday sign that we hung on the door, and Brandon made his birthday cake!  Jarrett started feeling badly again by early afternoon, so we snuggled up on the sofa and watched a movie.  He then took a long nap.

While Jarrett napped we had a gentleman drop by and want to see the house.  I'm not sure why he didn't just call the realtor, but he was a very nice WWII vet that had grown up in this area and currently lives in Pennsylvania.  So I invited him in to walk through.  He seems interested!  YEA!!!!  We'll see if he brings his wife back though.  All I could think of while he was here though was, "Does my house smell like the virus we are battling"?  AFTER he left, I lit my candles and started the potpouri burner just incase they came back that evening!

We had Jarrett's favorite dinner that night, chicken strips, homemade fries, corn and cream gravy for dipping.  He was feeling well enough to eat, but Hunter didn't come to the table because his "tummy hurts".  OH NO!!!    After dinner we all called Daddy on speaker phone to light the candles and sing Happy Birthday to Jarrett.  Daddy was shopping downtown, but stepped out of the store and sang along with us. What an awesome daddy to stand downtown on a Saturday night and sing to your 2 year old!  We LOVE YOU daddy!

30 minutes later, Hunter threw up and ALMOST made it to the toilet!  I started more laundry!  He also started running a fever, so I kept him downstairs to sleep on the sofa.  During the night though, BOTH little boys ended up in my bed.  It was a very tossy, turvey night to say the least.

SUNDAY so far has been a good day.  Of course, it is only 9:30 a.m.  The little ones woke up at 8:00, so it was nice to sleep in.  Is it still called sleeping in if you were awake half the night????  They both woke up fever free and feeling good.  We snuggled in bed for a while and then I got up to make a cup of coffee.  I returned with 2 children's books; one about moving and one about making new friends.  They both listened intently and then Hunter and I had a nice discussion about what it will be like to make new friends once we get to IL.

And that is a wrap for this week.  Long enough, don't you think???  Hello?  Hello?  Are you still here?  Still awake?  LOL!  Today I would like to have some fun time with my older kids.  It seems that we have had lots of working time together, but not a lot of playtime.  Perhaps a family hike would be nice if it warms up.  Or Em and I both love doing our nails together.  That would be a good naptime activity!

Have a good day!